Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Conclusion 51
First Report - Universities and Scotland
Published 28 May 2021
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Universities and Scotland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
A further potential risk to international student numbers in Scotland is, as identified by the RSE Young Academy of Scotland, the impact of—and the perception abroad of— UK immigration policies. They view this risk as having already materialised, and give the example of Indian students, where the UK saw a 58% drop in numbers between 2010–11 and 2016–17.124 The RSE Young Academy of Scotland argue that: With a wide range of destinations available on the international education market, Scotland and [ … ] [universities in other parts of the UK] face competition by providers in Australia, Canada, the United States, as well as EU countries developing teaching and research provision with English as the main delivery language. With culture and lifestyle key aspects identified as attractors for international students, it is essential that policies do not damage aspects of life in the UK that are a selling point for applicants. The long-term effect of brand damage cannot be overstated, since 22% of prospective students consider their destination of choice for international study at least 2-years in advance.125 118 “UCAS data cause for assurance in value of Scottish higher education”, Universities Scotland, 18 February 2021 119 “UCAS data cause for assurance in value of Scottish higher education”, Universities Scotland, 18 February 2021 120 Q33 121 Q232 122 Q68 123 Q85 124 RSE Young Academy of Scotland (USC0006) p 3 125 RSE Young Academy of Scotland (USC0006) p 3 24 Universities and Scotland UK Government immigration policies are discussed further in Chapter 4 (regarding students) and Chapter 5 (regarding academic/research staff).
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, First Report - Universities and Scotland (HC 54), 28 May 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 27 April 2022 (deadline 28 July 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out continued work with the devolved administrations and existing UK-wide policies on international students, immigration, research funding and talent, and states it will submit a response to the earlier Immigration and Scotland report "shortly".
- On the Turing Scheme, it confirmed funding for three years, including "£110 million for the 2022/23 Academic Year". It states the scheme "prioritises pupils, students and learners over staff and inward mobility funding", and says the first year's impact will be evaluated.
- On Erasmus+, it states that President Von Der Leyen "has previously confirmed that association by part of a country is not legally possible".
- On UKRI, it states that Board appointees "are not recruited to represent any constituency, sector or regional grouping", while a legal requirement to have regard to research conditions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is taken into account. It says Research England's place on the Executive Committee reflects its status as a legal component of UKRI.
- On visa costs, it states that "UK visa fees are broadly in line with our competitors" and that it will "continue to keep visa fees under review".